{"id":3411,"date":"2015-06-12T18:50:24","date_gmt":"2015-06-12T23:50:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/backgroundprobability\/?p=3411"},"modified":"2015-06-12T18:57:22","modified_gmt":"2015-06-12T23:57:22","slug":"freethought-fridayreads-memorial-service","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/backgroundprobability\/2015\/06\/12\/freethought-fridayreads-memorial-service\/","title":{"rendered":"Freethought #FridayReads \u2013 Memorial Service"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em>Friday posts usually review and link some book that I&#8217;ve been reading of late, but today I&#8217;m going to reproduce a classic H.L. Mencken essay in its entirety, since it is relatively brief\u00a0and\u00a0has long since\u00a0entered the public domain.<\/em> <em>&#8211; d.r.<\/em><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>Where is the graveyard of dead gods? What lingering mourner waters their mounds? There was a time when Jupiter was the king of the gods, and any man who doubted his puissance was ipso facto a barbarian and an ignoramus.\u00a0 But where in all the world is there a man who worships Jupiter today? And who of Huitzilopochtli? In one year &#8211; and it is no more than\u00a0 five\u00a0 hundred years ago &#8211; 50,000 youths and maidens were slain in sacrifice to him. Today, if he is remembered at all, it is only by some vagrant savage in\u00a0 the depths of the Mexican forest. Huitzilopochtli, like many other gods, had\u00a0 no human father; his mother was a virtuous widow; he was born of an apparently innocent flirtation that she carried out with the sun.<\/p>\n<p align=\"left\">When he frowned, his father, the sun, stood still.\u00a0 When he roared with rage, earthquakes engulfed whole cities. When he thirsted he was watered with 10,000 gallons of human blood. But today Huitzilopochtli is as magnificently\u00a0 forgotten as Allen G. Thurman. Once the peer of Allah, Buddha and Wotan, he\u00a0 is now the peer of Richmond P. Hobson, Alton B. Parker, Adelina Patti,\u00a0 General Weyler and Tom Sharkey.<\/p>\n<p align=\"left\">Speaking of Huitzilopochtli recalls his brother Tezcatilpoca.\u00a0Tezcatilpoca was almost as powerful; he consumed 25,000 virgins a year.<\/p>\n<p>Lead me to his tomb: I would weep, and hang a couronne des perles. But who knows where it is? Or where the grave of Quetzalcoatl is? Or Xiehtecuthli?\u00a0 Or Centeotl, that sweet one? Or Tlazolteotl, the goddess of love? Of Mictlan? Or Xipe? Or all the host of Tzitzimitles? Where are their bones?\u00a0 Where is the willow on which they hung their harps? In what forlorn and unheard-of Hell do they await their resurrection morn? Who enjoys their residuary estates? Or that of Dis, whom Caesar found to be the chief god of the Celts? Of that of Tarves, the bull? Or that of Moccos, the pig? Or that of Epona, the mare? Or that of Mullo, the celestial jackass? There was a time when the Irish revered all these gods, but today even the drunkest Irishman laughs at them.<\/p>\n<p>But they have company in oblivion: the Hell of dead gods is as crowded as the Presbyterian Hell for babies. Damona is there, and Esus, and Drunemeton, and Silvana, and Dervones, and Adsalluta, and Deva, and Belisima, and Uxellimus, and Borvo, and Grannos, and Mogons. All mighty gods in their day, worshipped by millions, full of demands and impositions, able to bind and loose &#8211; all gods of the first class. Men labored for generations to build vast temples to them &#8211; temples with stones as large as hay-wagons.<\/p>\n<p>The business of interpreting their whims occupied thousands of priests, bishops, archbishops. To doubt them was to die, usually at the stake. Armies took to the field to defend them against infidels; villages were burned, women and children butchered, cattle were driven off. Yet in the end they all withered and died, and today there is none so poor to do them reverence.<\/p>\n<p>What has become of Sutekh, once the high god of the whole Nile Valley?<\/p>\n<p>What has become of:<\/p>\n<pre><strong>\r\n      Resheph \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Baal\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Anath \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Astarte\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Ashtoreth \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Hadad\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Nebo \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Dagon\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Melek \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Yau\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Ahijah \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Amon-Re\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Isis \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Osiris\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Ptah \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Molech<\/strong><\/pre>\n<p>All there were gods of the highest eminence. Many of them are mentioned with fear and trembling in the Old Testament. They ranked, five or six thousand years ago, with Yahweh Himself; the worst of them stood far higher than Thor. Yet they have all gone down the chute, and with them the following:<\/p>\n<pre><strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Arianrod \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Nuada Argetlam\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Morrigu \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Tagd\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Govannon \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Goibniu\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Gunfled \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Odin\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Dagda \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Ogma\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Ogryvan \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Marzin\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Dea Dia \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Mara\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Iuno Lucina \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Diana of Ephesus\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Saturn \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Robigus\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Furrina \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Pluto\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Cronos \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Vesta\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Engurra \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Zer-panitu\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Belus \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Merodach\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Ubilulu \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Elum\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 U-dimmer-an-kia \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Marduk\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 U-sab-sib \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Nin\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 U-Mersi \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Persephone\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Tammuz \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Istar\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Venus \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Lagas\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Beltis \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Nirig\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Nusku \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 En-Mersi\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Aa \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Assur\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Sin \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Beltu\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Apsu \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Kuski-banda\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Elali \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Nin-azu\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Mami \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Qarradu\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Zaraqu \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Ueras\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Zagaga<\/strong><\/pre>\n<p><code><\/code>Ask the rector to lend you any good book on comparative religion; you will find them all listed. They were gods of the highest dignity &#8211; gods of civilized peoples &#8211; worshipped and believed in by millions. All were omnipotent, omniscient and immortal.<\/p>\n<p>And all are dead.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>Copyright 1922, Henry Louis Mencken<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/books.google.com\/books?id=6gNbAAAAMAAJ&amp;pg=PA232\" target=\"_blank\">Prejudices: Third Series, Volume 3<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Friday posts usually review and link some book that I&#8217;ve been reading of late, but today I&#8217;m going to reproduce&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":3308,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3411","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-friday-reads"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/backgroundprobability\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3411","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/backgroundprobability\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/backgroundprobability\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/backgroundprobability\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/23"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/backgroundprobability\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3411"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/backgroundprobability\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3411\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/backgroundprobability\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3308"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/backgroundprobability\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3411"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/backgroundprobability\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3411"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/backgroundprobability\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3411"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}